Archives for December 2014

‘Spiller has rushed for 287 yards on 69 carries and caught 14 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown for the Bills (8-6), who are one game out of the final wild-card spot.’

‘”We believed in each other all week,” Rambo said. “The coaches, the team, the players, everybody just believed in each other. We knew that we could come in here, do the right things, and do what the coaches ask us to do, and we could stop this team. We believe in each other, throughout this whole week. We still believe in each other. This is just a huge confidence boost for the whole defense. To not allow not one quarterback, but two of the hottest quarterbacks in the NFL to no passing touchdowns, this is a huge, huge confidence boost for us.”‘

‘Spiller, cornerback Stephon Gilmore (shoulder), safety Da’Norris Searcy (hamstring), defensive end Jarius Wynn (knee), safety Duke Williams (concussion), running back Anthony Dixon (chest), kicker Dan Carpenter (groin) and return specialist Marcus Thigpen (foot) were all labeled as probable for Sunday’s contest. Only tight end Chris Gragg was listed as questionable, after missing three games with a knee injury.’

‘The only remaining question is whether he will be active on game day, a decision that rests with Buffalo’s sideline boss.’

‘The Bills need to jump on the Raiders early and stake themselves to an early lead. Oakland ranks 29th in first quarter scoring this season, but their two wins have come in games where they’ve gotten on the scoreboard first. When their opponent scores first they are 0-7 this season.’

‘”It’s going great,” he said of the transition to a new team. “All the guys were welcoming. The coaches were welcoming. From my Miami days, they know what I can do. That sparks them up to block even more, because they know I can take it the distance at any given time, so it’s been a great transition.”‘

‘Mack, this year’s fifth overall draft choice, has done the University at Buffalo proud. And while the Raiders have infamously botched their share of first-round picks over the years, they sure seem to have gotten this one right.’

‘”Just going against (Rodgers), having my first career interception and my second career interception off him, it’s just a huge, huge confidence boost,” he said. “That’s going to allow me to play even faster and build confidence in myself, that, hey, I can do this. I belong in this league.”‘

‘”If there’s any blame it should be on me in anything that happens with our football team, first of all,” Marrone said. “Secondly, if it was a problem with one thing it would be very easy to fix. It’s really collective. And that’s probably 99 percent of all the problems that occur when you’re on the team. Sometimes a play will point out somebody, but at the end of the day when you’re evaluating all the plays it’s just a matter of trying to get 11 guys to be as efficient as they can and then when everyone has a clean opportunity to get it done does that player get it done or not? That’s how you evaluate it. For us, it’s been up and down and we’re just going to continue to get better.”‘

‘”He looks good, he really does,” Marrone said. “It’s just a matter of waiting until the end of the week to make a move there. The only concern I have is to make sure just from the standpoint of not really being in shape but just to be able to play and run plays in and out in and out, that his conditioning is right at that level. It seems to be ok. I think that will just get better. He looks explosive and he’s moving well.”‘

Raiders rookie Jackson brings ‘mean streak’ to field (Oakland Tribune)

Raiders sell out Sunday’s game against Bills (Contra Costa Times)

Breaking down the Buffalo Bills (Contra Costa Times)

Raiders’ deep draft class yielded no deep threat (San Francisco Chronicle)

Raiders defense depleted by injuries (AP)

Raiders defense trudges on despite injury plague (CSN Bay Area)

Raiders-Bills game sold out (CSN Bay Area)

Bills-Raiders Matchup No. 3: Watkins vs. Hayden (CSN Bay Area)

DE Wilson back to work (CSN Bay Area)

Practice Recap – December 18 (Raiders.com)

Coach Sparano’s Thursday Update (Raiders.com)

Greg Olson: “They’re a sound defense” (Raiders.com)

Jason Tarver: “We’re about playing with passion” (Raiders.com)

Murray: “We Have Our Work Cut Out For Us” (Raiders.com)

Mack: “I’ve Grown A Lot” (Raiders.com)

‘”If I have to use something from somebody else to prove my worth, then I don’t consider that being a man,” Williams said, defiantly. “The guys in this building, that’s all that matters to me. Anything else anybody else says is irrelevant.”‘

‘Bills allowed 2.8 yards per carry and no touchdowns rushing first six games; 5.0 per carry and 10 TDs rushing past eight games.’

‘Bills 24, Raiders 20.’

‘The Bills fell behind 21-3 – but rallied to win – in their last meeting with the Raiders. The Raiders won’t go quietly trying to make a positive statement on behalf of 2-8 interim coach Tony Sparano, but Oakland is turned back by a rugged defense on top of its game.’